Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Low

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

Bucharest in the 21st century is a great city to live in, with a trendy food and drink scene, hipster neighbourhoods, and impressive architecture that rivals the likes of Paris and Berlin. Yet in the late 1980s, Bucharest was a place of despair, in the grips of a mass uprising. Take a tour with a local to find out what life was like here behind the iron curtain. See for yourself the impact that various occupiers have had over the years and re-live the emotion of the revolution and the fall of an egotistical dictator.

Highlights

Add another dimension to your Bucharest stay by getting unique insight into what life was like here under Communist rule

Your afternoon tour starts at the infamous Revolution Square, with its many landmarks that tell the story of the city’s turbulent past. There is much to be explored in this square, including the former Royal Palace (now the National Museum of Art), the Athenaeum, and the University of Bucharest Library. We’ll head towards the Archives, a building that still bears the bullet holes of the 1989 revolution.

Over to Constitution Square next, where will see a stunning example of larger-than-life communist ideals at the Palace of the Parliament. The world’s second biggest administrative building after the Pentagon is quite overwhelming. Ceausescu ordered the destruction of historic neighbourhoods in order to construct this colossal, controversial complex, which he ironically named The People’s House (Casa Poporului). Here we will ascend to the roof for spectacular views across the city (subject to availability)

A quick stop for refreshments will give you an opportunity to try Romania’s favourite street food snack, a covrig, similar to a pretzel but arguably even more delicious!

Next we will visit a neighborhood in the east of Bucharest, where you will see examples of true socialist architecture and one of the city’s famous 'Hunger Circles' — a canteen from the communist era, so-called because of the severe food shortages that locals suffered through at the time.

On our way, we will stop at the Romanian Television HQ (TVR). Due to the ‘energy saving programme’ introduced by Ceausescu, the TVR schedule was severely limited to only about two hours per day. Much of this was dedicated to the cult of Ceausescu and his wife Elena, featuring entertainment laced with a heavy dose of propaganda.

For a fascinating comparison, we will then make our way to the Primaverii neighbourhood, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city and still home to many politicians and local celebrities. Nicolae Ceausescu actually occupied a whole block of villas here, including one for his security guards and one for domestic servants, and the area has remained an exclusive district ever since.

Your tour ends at Victory Square, where you will see the Victoria Palace, headquarters of the Romanian government.

Before you go, make sure to ask your local guide for tips on where to eat, drink, and shop in this hidden gem of a European capital city.

Additional information

Exclusions: Entrance to Primaverii Palace (Ceausescu’s house), transportation to and from the meeting point, additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 4 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.